Could Goldfinger Have Killed Bond's Girlfriend By Covering Her Body With Gold Paint?

[DozyKipper]

This is a question from Daily Mail Go for literary gold book quiz.  Answer is a) yes or b) no

[Khandro]

yes

[davebro3]

guessing - yes, but it would take a lot longer than it apparently did...

[davebro3]

he just gave her the brush off

[ToraToraTora]

Yes, skin suffocation. In the film Shirley Eaton is really painted but they leave plenty of her un painted:

https://www.messynessychic.com/2013/11/25/how-they-painted-bonds-golden-girl/

 

[chyntialee]

The idea that Goldfinger's henchmen could kill someone by completely covering their skin with gold paint, as depicted in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, is a creative but scientifically dubious concept. The movie suggests that painting the skin prevents it from "breathing," leading to death. Here’s a breakdown:

Myth: The Skin "Breathes"

The belief in the movie is that the skin is a major organ for respiration and that covering it entirely with paint could suffocate a person. However, this is a myth:

The skin does not play a significant role in breathing. Humans rely almost entirely on their lungs for oxygen exchange.

Blocking the pores with paint would not prevent oxygen from entering the body, as oxygen is delivered to tissues through blood circulation, not through the skin.

Real Risks of Body Paint

While the concept of death by paint suffocation is incorrect, covering the skin with non-breathable substances can still pose risks:

Heat Regulation: The skin helps regulate body temperature by sweating. Completely covering it with paint could impair this function, leading to potential overheating.

Toxicity: Some paints may contain toxic substances (e.g., heavy metals, solvents). Prolonged exposure to these chemicals could lead to poisoning if absorbed through the skin or inhaled.

Could It Have Been Lethal?

If the gold paint used in Goldfinger contained harmful chemicals (e.g., mercury or lead compounds), then intoxication might have been a possibility. However:

Death from overheating or chemical poisoning would take time, not the instantaneous effect portrayed in the movie.

If the person could move, drink water, and maintain some airflow, they would be unlikely to die simply from being painted.

Conclusion

While covering a person with gold paint might cause discomfort, overheating, or even chemical poisoning, it would not cause death through "skin suffocation" as the movie suggests. The scene remains a dramatic and fictional embellishment rather than a reflection of real-life science.

[davebro3]

so there!

[douglas9401]

Such...A cold finger...

[ToraToraTora]

beware of his web of sin....

[Canary42]

The answer is "yes" because it's Fictional.

(Dick Barton never had this trouble)

[Old_Geezer]

No

[Khandro]

canary 17:19 is right:

Just as, Sherlock Holmes lived at 22b Baker Street is correct,

but it isn't true.

[brainiac]

This question refers to a review this year by John Walsh of a book about all the weird technology used in the Bond films.  If someone can find the review (on Pressreader, maybe) then it will give the answer, but failing that, all the info online says it's not true

[brainiac]

^^ the review is in the Daily Mail

[bednobs]

Didn't Holmes live at 221b?

[Khandro]

bednobs: //Didn't Holmes live at 221b?//

Yes; typo.

and shouldn't it be bedknobs ?

[bednobs]

Lol no. It's bednobs, no matter how many people try to put a k in it